Protecting nature, safeguarding health: Utilising the IUCN Green List to mitigate risks of zoonosis in Central Asia

The “One Health in nature conservation in Central Asia” project applies the “One Health” approach that integrates human, animal, and environmental health, strengthening collaboration across sectors and disciplines such as medicine, veterinary science, ecology, and public health. 

“Nature conservation plays a crucial role in reducing zoonotic risks through enhancing the resilience of Central Asian landscapes - essential for safeguarding human, animal, and environmental health that lie at the heart of the One Health approach,” said Oliver Avramoski, Director of IUCN Regional Office for Eastern Europe and Central Asia (ECARO). “We are committed to supporting governments in building national and regional capacity by applying IUCN's tools and standards, including the IUCN Green List, a global benchmark for effective and equitable area-based conservation.” 

The IUCN Green List ensures that wildlife and ecosystems not only survive but thrive, bringing lasting value to communities. As a global standard tailored to local contexts, it applies to both nationally protected areas and conserved areas, including other effective area-based conservation measures (OECMs). By preserving intact nature and promoting well-governed conserved areas, the IUCN Green List offers solutions to societal challenges, and supports countries to achieve their Global Biodiversity Framework commitments with long-lasting results. Both One Health approach and the IUCN Green List emphasise the importance of well-managed and sustainable ecosystems in promoting overall health and well-being, not just for humans but for all living organisms and the environment.

"It is a well-known fact that "Nature knows no borders", and biodiversity loss, ecosystem degradation and climate change increase the risks of spreading outbreaks of zoonotic diseases. We hope that this project will serve as a good platform for coordinated efforts between Central Asian countries to prevent risks of zoonotic diseases, and raise awareness about the connection between nature conservation, ecosystem health and human well-being", said Aziz Abdukhakimov, Minister of Ecology, Environmental Protection, and Climate Change of Uzbekistan, in his message to the participants.  

The two-day event in Tashkent is attended by government representatives from Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, and numerous national and international organisations, confirming strong regional commitment to One Health approach in nature conservation in Central Asia.

“With this newly launched IKI project, BMUV aims to contribute to prevent future zoonoses. This innovative project is set to operationalise the One Health approach in protected areas and beyond as well as in national policy making. We are confident it will generate important new knowledge and good practices to reduce the risk of zoonoses,” stressed Dr. Matthias Schröter-Vinke, IKI Office at ZUG (project executing agency), speaking on behalf of the donor, the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection (BMUV) today in Tashkent.

Coordinated by IUCN, this partnership brings together international partners, including the Michael Succow Foundation, the Secretariat of the Convention of Migratory Species (CMS), UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre (WCMC), and the Zoological Society of London (ZSL), and national authorities and expert organisations across the region, such as CAMP Alatoo in Kyrgyzstan, the Institute of Zoology of Kazakhstan, the Institute of Zoology of Uzbek Academy of Sciences, and the Tajikistan Nature Foundation (TNF).

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For more information or to set up interviews, please contact:
Aleksandra Nikodinović, Regional Communications Officer, IUCN Regional Office for Eastern Europe and Central Asia (ECARO), phone: +381 63 357 407, email: [email protected] 

Notes to editors

One Health Approach
Disease risks are a growing threat to human health and species survival. Changes in ecosystems and contact with wildlife and other animals are driving risks. A One Health approach is essential to help identify and reduce sources of risk to prevent disease more proactively; conservation authorities have a key role to play. The Guidelines for Prevention, Detection, Response, and Recovery from Disease Risks provide practical guidance for governments and site managers.
One Health: Reducing Disease Risk – IUCN Policy Brief

About IUCN
IUCN is a membership Union uniquely composed of both government and civil society organisations. It International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is a membership Union composed of both government and civil society organisations. It harnesses the experience, resources and reach of its more than 1,400 Member organisations and the input of more than 15,000 experts. This diversity and vast expertise makes IUCN the global authority on the status of the natural world and the measures needed to safeguard it.

The IUCN Regional Office for Eastern Europe and Central Asia (IUCN ECARO) was established in 2015 with a view to supporting IUCN constituency and implementing the IUCN Programme in most countries of the IUCN Statutory Region East Europe, North and Central Asia. In an effort to contribute to a more sustainable future for this region, IUCN ECARO focuses its work on good governance, the long-term protection of biodiversity and sustainable use of natural resources. The office is based in Belgrade, Serbia, and was initially established as the IUCN Programme Office for South-Eastern Europe (IUCN SEE) in 2004.
https://twitter.com/IUCN/ 
https://twitter.com/IUCN_ECARO 

About IKI
The International Climate Initiative (IKI) is one of the key instruments of the German Federal Government to support international climate action and biodiversity. The IKI supports solution strategies in developing and emerging countries that seek to achieve sustainable change. https://www.international-climate-initiative.com/en 
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About the project
The project “One Health in Nature Conservation - Enhancing landscape resilience to zoonotic disease emergence by consolidating nature conservation systems in Central Asia” under the International Climate Initiative (IKI), implemented by IUCN and national and international partners will help prevent the emergence and spread of zoonotic diseases. It focuses on the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health, emphasising the need for a holistic approach to address complex challenges.

The experts will work to consolidate a fair and effective regional network of protected and conserved areas, strengthen conservation measures and wildlife management for disease risk mitigation, and promote the latest zoonosis research and technology advancements. The project is funded by the German Ministry for Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety, and Consumer Protection (BMUV) through the International Climate Initiative (IKI) and executed by IUCN in collaboration with a consortium of national and international organizations across five Central Asian countries: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, over 5 years (2024-2029).

Coordinated by IUCN, this partnership brings together international partners, including the Michael Succow Foundation, the Secretariat of the Convention of Migratory Species (CMS), UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre (WCMC), and the Zoological Society of London (ZSL), and national authorities and expert organisations across the region, such as CAMP Alatoo in Kyrgyzstan, the Institute of Zoology of Kazakhstan, the Institute of Zoology of Uzbek Academy of Sciences, and the Tajikistan Nature Foundation (TNF).